So Chelsea Green was kind enough to pass along a copy of Stephen and Rebekah Hren’s new book officially titled The Carbon-Free Home: 36 Remodeling Projects to Help Kick the Fossil Fuel Habit. As always, I’ve handled the book with care and will give it away to one lucky, random commenter below.* To give you an idea of the quality material contained in the book, here’s a review comment from the green guru Bill McKibben: "It’s hard to imagine a more comprehensive, and comprehensible, guide to making your home work for you and for the planet, inside and out. It’s frugal, it’s sensible, and it will help!" I’d like to echo the comments of Bill McKibben myself, because this book is completely legit.

I've just received an excellent new book, and as is the tradition here at JG, I'll be giving the book away to one random commenter.* Published by The Taunton Press, Green from the Ground Up is incredibly thorough and more helpful than I ever imagined it would be. I really shouldn't have been surprised, though, because one of the authors, David Johnston, has another book out on green remodeling that's very popular. So I expect Green from the Ground Up to be just as successful.

It has over 300 pages and 300 color images that provide a way for the reader to see that (1) green building actually works and (2) green buildings don't have to be ugly.

I really hate to do this, but I’m giving away a new, autographed copy of a book that I really like. You know the drill: leave a comment, and after 48 hours, I’ll pick a winner based on the number of your comment.* This book is particularly hard to let go, because I keep referring back to it for different pieces of information. It’s called The Green Building Revolution by Jerry Yudelson. Yudelson is a serious expert in the industry and maintains an information-rich website at www.greenbuildconsult.com — plug it into the feed, you’ll be happy you did. The book itself is loaded up with information, but it’s not a chore to read. It’s accessible on the one hand and super thorough on the other. Seems hard to do, but Yudelson finds a way to deliver the straight facts without leaving you lost. Particularly, I was engrossed by three chapters: the business case for green buildings, the costs of green buildings, and the future of green buildings. He delivers a compelling case for green buildings and our future, and it’s not just about the money.

*Open commenting ends at the end of the day on Saturday, midnight MST. Say anything you want, but if you’re shy or don’t know what to say, tell us where you’re from. Ex: Salt Lake City, Utah in the green house. Offer only available in the U.S. for shipping reasons. Shipping is on me. I will email you for a mailing address and after shipping it, the winner will be announced in the comments.

This is my no B.S. guide to green books you should read (if you haven’t already done so). Go to your bookstore/library of choice and there’s no doubt that the bookshelf is getting cluttered with authorship on a range of green topics. Some of them are no more than a simple intro with a directory of products — the books are well and fine, but they become obsolete quickly in this crazy market. So, here’s my list of 5 books you should read, especially during the holiday season if you have some downtime. In choosing these books, I’ve decided to err on the side of edification rather than entertainment. You’ll find legitimate analysis and thought in all five. Enjoy:

I just received an excellent book by the noteworthy, bestselling author Bill McKibben called Fight Global Warming Now: The Handbook for Taking Action in Your Community. And as I’ve done in the past, I’m giving a copy away.* McKibben is the author of several books and with Fight Global Warming Now, he draws on his experience with Step It Up 2007 to explain what it takes to launch online grassroots campaigns, generate persuasive political pressure, and plan high-profile events that will draw media attention. The book is a blueprint of sorts for the movement to battle climate change. To give you an idea, one of the goals of the movement is an 80% reduction in carbon emissions by 2050. Feel free to visit Bill McKibben‘s website or Step It Up 2007 to learn more about it and Step It Up 2, which is planned for November 3, 2007.

*After 48 hours, I’m going to pick a number out of a cap and give this book away to the comment number corresponding to the number I pick. Since you leave your email when you comment, I’ll email you for your address and shipping’s on me to anywhere in the U.S. Not sure what to say in the comments? Tell me where you’re commenting from: "SLC, Utah here!"

Just a quick note on a new book that’s out by Jerry Yudelson called Green Building A to Z. I received an advance copy that I’ve read through and want to give away to a random commenter.* As the preface explains, "[this book] is designed for you, intelligent reader, who may not be actively engaged in architecture or building engineering, but who needs a quick introduction to the rationale for green buildings and the language of the field." I’d like to describe it as a dictionary of everything relating to green building, but it’s more than that. Yudelson has an approachable perspective and breaks everything down nicely. After reading through explanations of biophilia, thermal energy storage, and commissioning, you’ll be hitting on all cylinders. I think this is a good book to have on hand as a reference, almost as a checklist of things to think about with a project. It’s also a good book for building owners, investors, or lenders that want to know more about green building principles.

*After 48 hours, I’m going to pick a number out of a baseball cap and give this book away to the comment number corresponding to the number pulled from the hat. Since you leave your email when you comment, I’ll email you for your address and shipping’s on me to anywhere in the U.S. Not sure what to say in the comments? Tell me where you’re commenting from: "Salt Lake City, Utah here!"